Automobile parking machine



Oct. 31, 1933. w. c-:A|N, sR 1,932,445

AUTOMOBILE PARKING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l wlnasygzgw ATTORNEY oct. 3.1, 1933. w CMN, 5R 1,932,446

l- AUTOMOBILE PARKING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY y omen sTATEsPArENT ori-icc 1,932,446 AUTOMOBILE PARKING MACHINE William Cain, Sr.,tNewburg, W. Va.. Application June 29, 1932. Serial No. 620,037 `2 claims. V(ci. zii-1an The invention relates to an elevator or hoist and more particularly to an automobile parking machine.

The primary object of the invention is the 5 provision of a machine oi this character, wherein e. determined number of automobiles can be driven therein and such automobiles hoisted or lifted for the purpose of the parking of the same, thereby eliminating ground parking, especially at congested sections or areas, the machine being of. novel construction so that the same need not require an attendant but the parking of each machine can be accomplished by the operator thereof and such respective machines are readily accessible for their release.

Another object of the invention is theA provision of a machine ot this character, wherein the automobiles received thereby can be lifted overhead to a desired elevation so that during parking pedestrians cannot gain access to the automobiles and thus they will be protected against theft and while parked will be above tramo to avoid damage thereto. The machine in its construction permits the parking of a determined number of automobiles, each being accommodated upon a lift which is susceptible of raising and lowering movement so that when occupied it may be lifted above traino and suspended in position during the parking period.

A. further 'object oi the invention is the provision of a machineof this character, wherein the lift for the automobiles can be brought into a position to permit an automobile to be driven thereonto and thereafter lifted overhead for the parking period of the same, the machine in its entirety being of novel construction.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character which 40 is comparatively simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and emcient in its operation for the purpose intended thereof, readily and easily operated, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will'be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention showing all of the lifts except one elevated and the lower lift being` in section and containing an automobile.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view. Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the 30 line 3--3 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure e is a sectional view on the line 4--4 oi Figure 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrows. Figure 5 is a fragmentary ,sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure vl looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 v of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 'l is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 7--7 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows. i

Figure e is a sectional view on the line 3-8 ci Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on the line 9--9 of Figure l looking in thesdirection oi theA arrows. Similar reference characters indicate correm spending parts throughout the several views in 301 the drawings. A

Referring to the drawings in detail, the pariring machine comprises a vertically disposed rotatable upright or post l0 having its lower end journaied in a bearing ll countersunk in a foundation or the ground and this bearing is iitted with suitable anti-friction devices l2, such for example as bearing rollers and bearing balls. The post or upright l0 next to the foundation or ground vhas suitably fitted therewith a rack il@ gear 13 with which engages a iatching dog 1li pivoted at l5 in a bracket lo suitably fixed to the foundation or ground and this dog 1.4 is releasable through a pull link l'Z extending to any suitable locality for convenient operation thereof.

The dog 14 when engaging the gear 13 will make fast the upright or post 10 to avoid rotation thereof and on release of the dog the upright or post can be readily turned.

Upon this upright or post l0 at the desired l0@ elevation or height are the opposed horizontally disposed arms 18, each including pairs of angle bars which outwardly converge and have their inner ends fitted with a four-armed spider i9 made fast about the upright or post 10, while E05 suitably connected or formed with the outer ends of said arms i8 are ears 20 carrying cross bolts 2l, these being connected with braces 22, each having a turnbuckle 23 and are hung upon a. collar 24 fixed about the upright or post 10 close 110 53 journaled in the stand 49.

to the upper end thereof, the collar being formed 'with ears 25 carrying cross bolts 26 connecting the braces 22 thereto.

The upper end of the upright or vpost 10 is iitted in a bearing cap or head 27 with which are connected guy wires 28, these being anchored at any suitable locality and disposed removed from. the upright or post l0, the cap being tted with anti-friction bearings 29 so that the upright or post i0 can freely rotate therein and in this fashion, through the medium of the cap 27,. the said post or upright will be sustained perpendicular.

Suspended-from the arms 18 near their outer' ends are open guide frames 30, these having spaced .vertical guide members 31 and the horiaantal portions 32 provided'with inwardly convergent ends 33 fixed at 34 to the'upright or post l0. Movable into and outv of the frames 30 are lifts or cages, each including a bottom 35, sides 36, inner end 37 and top 38, the outer end being open and protected by a foldable toggle gate 39. The sides 36 intermediate thereof have externally thereon vertically disposed channeled runners e0 accommodating the vertical guides 31 of the frames 30, while centrally of the top 38 is an eye coupling d1 with which is connected a pulley block' 42 having joined therewith an end of a hoisting cable 43. This cable 43 is trained about the pulley 44 in the block 42 and also the pulley 45 in.l the block 46, which latter, through its hook 47, is suspended from a hanger 48 at the outer end of the arm i8 so that on operation of the cable i3 the lift common thereto can be raised and lowered and in the movement of the same it will be guided into and out of the frame 30 between the vertical guides 31 thereof as will be clearly apparent from Figure l of the drawings. The cables i3 for the respective hoists are controlled and operated in a manner presently described. 'l

` Suitably i'lxed upon the upright or post 10 is a stand 49 having journaled therein opposed windlasses^50, there being a number ofthe same corresponding to the number of lifts and with these windlasses 50 are connected the cables d3 controlling the raising and lowering of the lifts.

Each windlass 50 has end gears 5i, these meshing with pinions 52 on a power transmitting shaft Each shaft 53 oarries a worm gear 54 meshing with a worm feed screw 55 journaled in the stand 49. Each worm feed screw 55 which extends outwardly oi' the stand 49 has iltted on its outer end a hand crank 56 so that thesaid feed screw may be manually turned on actuating the hand crank 55 as will be obvious. The turning of each'screwoperates its companion windlass 5o so that the cable e3 connected thereto may be wound onor imwound from this wlndlass and upon the winding of the cable the lift associated with said cable will be raised from a lowered to an elevated position while on the unwinding oi' the cable the lifted or raised lift can be lowered onto the foundation or ground as is shown in Figure l ofthe drawings. The lift when upon the ground or foundation and upon opening the gate 39 thereto will permit an automobile to be driveninto the liit so that essere@ when the latter is raised the automobile may be parked in an elevated position in the machine.

Carried by the upright or post l0 are suitable guide pulleys-57 for the respective cables 43. Also ilxed beneath the arms 18 to the upright or post 10 are upwardly divergent brace bars 58, these being made fast to the outer ends of the arms so as to reinforce and strengthen the same.

To sustain an automobile against displacement in each lift there are provided suitable wheel blocks 59 placed both fore and aft of the automobile and against the front and rear wheels thereof.

It will be apparent that the post or upright 10 can be turned so'as to bring a particular lift into position with respect to an automobile as may be driven in a direction toward the machine whereby the automobile can berolled onto or within the selected lift for the subsequent hoisting of such automobile within the machine for the parking thereof at an elevation from the ground or foundation and above tramo or pedestrians, thereby relieving congested conditions upon the ground or foundation.

it should be obvious that the automobile when in lifted position can be lowered by the lowering of the lift carrying the same to bring it upon the ground or foundation, this being taken care of by the hand crank 56 controllingthe selected lift whereby the automobile within the same can be run therefrom for its release from the machine.

The capacity of the machine as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings is for accommodating four automobiles, yet it will be understood that such capacity may be varied for increasing or decreasing the number of automobiles to be lifted and parked.

It is of course understood that in lieu of operating the device by a hand crank 56 the latter may be driven by a motor or otherwise and this 115 is contemplated within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed iszl 1. An automobile parking machine comprising a rotatable vertically disposed upright, a plurality oi radially disposed horizontal arms projecting 120 from said upright at a determined elevated point thereof, a spider made fast to the upright and carrying Said arms, open guide frames depending from thev arms, lifts adjustablv suspended from said arms and having medial side guides engageable with the frame, and toggle gates at the outermost portions of the lifts.

2. An automobile parking machine comprising a rotatable vertically disposed upright, a plurality of radially disposed horizontal arms projecting 13C from said upright at a determined elevated point thereof, a spider made fast to the upright and carrying said arms, open guide frames depending from the arms, lifts adjustably suspended from said arms and having medial side guidesengageable with the frame, toggle gates at the outermost portions of the lifts, and raising and lowering means connected with the lifts 'and accessible at a lower point of the upright.

i* i' GAIN, Sn. 1&0 

